Porto Alegre as a growth machine: recent housing production in the metropolis

Abstract

Housing production in Brazilian metropolises is linked to the expansion and strengthening of the real estate sector in urban spaces, often independently of the country's economic cycles. Porto Alegre does not deviate from the Brazilian pattern; however, this article verifies Molotch’s hypothesis called “Growth Machine”. To accomplish this, it examines and discusses the real estate dynamics and housing construction in the last decade in the city of Porto Alegre. Data from SINDUSCON-RS are used as reference, in addition to housing production data from the Minha Casa Minha Vida Program (PMCMV) between 2009 and 2020. Based on the hypothesis, the article demonstrates the importance that sectors linked to the real estate dynamics have in the production of space in the city.

housing production; growth machine; real estate market; Porto Alegre